Post by Cincinnati Bengals (Chris) on Jul 16, 2019 21:11:49 GMT -5
NFC NORTH
The NFC North provided one of the most-compelling races in recent memory last year, with the reigning champion Minnesota Vikings and the upstart Detroit Lions entering the final week within a game of each other for the North crown, and the winner earning the right to…well, play the same game again the very next week! Ultimately, Christian (DET) prevailed in the regular season finale, before Matt exacted revenge on him in the playoffs the following week in the 4-5 seed game. And while Matt had a little bit more magic in his hat (Upending the previously unbeaten and record-setting Cecil (SEA)), he met his match one week later, losing to eventual champion Philadelphia, and was not able to be the first defending champion (Or former champion) to reclaim his crown. Will Matt be able to get back atop the division? Will Christian prove that 2018 wasn’t just a fluke, and upset the order in the division for good? Can Jaxon improve upon his impressive rookie campaign, or will he actually follow through on his announced intentions of tanking? And will this finally be the year that Charlie crawls out of the league basement for good? Let me know what you think about my projections and post you own comments. Also, DON’T FORGET to vote in the poll, as that’s the whole point.
Chicago Bears (Charlie)
Last year’s finish: 31st (Division: 4th)
Outlook: As I predicted, last year’s iteration of Charlie’s Bears was neither the best, nor the worst team that he has ever fielded—but it was much closer to the worst. Despite the 2-10 finish, there are some reasons for long-term optimism. Firstly, he used what draft capital that he didn’t trade away on either future and/or current Redskins’ starting QB Dwayne Haskins (Though a future starting QB, a leader of an RBBC for the short term, two DL, and a future role player at WR is a highly dissatisfying return on the #2 overall pick). Provided he can win the job, it will necessitate Charlie moving him or incumbent Matt Stafford to another team, a decision which, I’m legitimately unsure of how he’ll handle. Running back, as always, seems to be one of Charlie’s biggest issues, but the tandem of Peyton Barber and Jamaal Williams probably represents the best two options he’s ever had at the position since joining the league in 2015. Wide receiver is outright troublesome, with only bit-part players Phillip Dorsett, Cordarrelle Patterson, Laquon Treadwell, Robert Davis, and presumably rookie Travis Fulgham at the position. Add to that only Nick Boyle, blocking TE for the run-heaviest team in the NFL, and it’s very likely the worst receiving corps, and maybe the worse offense outright, in the league. Defensively Charlie’s in a bit better shape. At DL, Rober Nkemdiche finally had the breakout season everyone was waiting for, and now Charlie has added to that with the drafting of Nick Bosa. Linebacker, despite having no obvious standouts outside of Khalil Mack, who has now been re-upped through 2021, representing the Bear’s best semblance of a franchise player, may be the team’s best position. Spanning the range from above to below average, Charlie’s options include Leonard Floyd, Don’t’a Hightower, Clay Matthews, Elijah Lee, Dante Fowler Jr., and Frankie Luvu. Defensive back, similarly, is a position with several decent options, including Lamarcus Joyner, Xavien Howard, Kendall Fuller, and Xavier Rhodes. Clearly, the defense is much better than the offense, and may even crack the top-half on that side of the ball if they reach their potential this year.
X-factor: Offensive skill position players. Despite some obvious signs of improvement, Chicago is still worlds away from seriously competing in this league. If he is able to keep Haskins, Mack, and Bosa, he may be able to build around that core for the future. But it has to start at the positions of import on offense, of which, he has done a dreadfully poor job of stocking over the years.
Projected division finish: 4th
Detroit Lions (Christian)
Last year’s finish: 10th (Division: 1st)
Outlook: Christian managed to put his tenure as the failed owner of the Oakland Raiders behind him in 2018, winning the NFC North and making the playoffs for the first time, keeping alive Ryan’s (DET) streak of the franchise making the playoffs every year since we’ve kept data (2010), one of two franchises to do so (PHI is the other). Bearing some amazing similarities to his predecessor, Christian added some key pieces last year, including a virtuoso performance from linebacker Josh Bynes (Until he was placed on IR late in our regular season), who helped to fortify his linebacking corps, averaging a career-high 10.8 PPG whilst recording solid PFF grades, before surprisingly being released after the season without a hint of interest from any other NFL team. It’s a puzzling move that compares to Gerald Hodges’ release several years back. For Christian’s sake, I hope that Bynes’ situation doesn’t end up playing out like that of Hodges. At any rate, not having very good second linebacker production (Alongside Cam Newton’s inability to throw a football more than 10 yards), spelled doom on the Lions’ playoff chances. Speaking of Newton, he’s back (And hopefully so is his throwing arm), as well as holdovers Tylers Lockett and Eifert, Matt Breida, Chris Herndon, who was just suspended for the first four games on the basis of a DWI, and fellow criminal miscreant--and the soon-to-be suspended--Mark Walton. Overall, it would be an underwhelming group for a defending division champion if not for the decision that Christian made in the draft: to pony up and nab Josh Jacobs. That decision alone elevates his offense into the top-half, if not higher. However, further maintenance is required, unless of course he’s counting on health and production from the likes of Breshad Perriman, the aforementioned Herndon and Eifert TE combo, Walton, Dontrelle Inman, Chris Moore, and rookie Scotty Miller. Defensively, Detroit returns Carlos Dunlap—who was quietly excellent in 2018—at DL, alongside under-the-radar FA signings Ezekiel Ansah, and Adam Gostis. Provided health for Ansah (Though Christian smartly handcuffed him with rookie L.J. Collier), that could be one of the best DL groupings in the league. Leighton Vander Esch, who had one of the best rookie seasons in recent memory, leads the unit as a whole. He will pair with also-rans Elandon Roberts, Ben Gedeon, Adarius Taylor, the aforementioned, and to date unemployed, Bynes, and rookies Deshaun Davis, and Christian Miller (Who 1. May be reclassified to defensive line, and 2. Has an awesome dad, who spent a great deal of time talking to Steve and I at the Senior Bowl about his son, and his careers as a pro athlete and sportscaster). While Roberts and Gedeon may prove to be enough to get the Lions by at the position, an upgrade is probably needed to get him back to where he was a year ago. At the back end, Landon Collins, Adrian Amos, Marshon Lattimore, and Eric Murray make up one of the better DB quartets in the league. All-in-all, Detroit profiles as a team with some immense individual talent that is sorely missing some glue to put it all together. It will be interesting to see what, if anything Christian does to ameliorate that, and if nothing, how far he can coast on his current roster.
X-factor: Wide Receiver/Linebacker. Clearly Christain has the equation to make half a whole for both of these two positions. If he can acquire some pieces to work in tandem with those two talents (Vander Esch and Lockett), his chances of defending the North division crown and securing a high playoff spot look much better. As it is, he’s looking up at Minnesota again to start the season.
Projected division finish: 2nd
Green Bay Packers (Jaxon)
Last year’s finish: 21st (Division: 3rd)
Outlook: After entering the league with the season already underway last year, Jaxon managed to take a roster light on talent to a tiebreaker away from a playoff bid. This year’s squad is objectively more talented Week 1, but with Jaxon vowing to teardown and tank/put the focus towards the future—something that is probably not the worst idea given the gulf in talent between him and the league’s elite (And that more new managers should definitely do rather than go all in)—it’s unclear what will remain come the regular season. Still, I will render my predictions based on the information that I have available to me, and the fact that his team, at current, is far too good to be considered in the bottom-5, or maybe even 10 teams. And that starts with his starting quarterback—or at least one of his two pretty much guaranteed starters—Phillip Rivers, and his $12.5/1y salary—one which if I were Jaxon, I would get on the horn about trading now rather than after rookies are signed, as few teams, forget teams with a QB need, have the cap to take on, and fewer still will have space once rookie signing really kicks into gear. If he stays, it’s hard to see GB finishing anywhere near the bottom. That said, he also has Eli Manning, and took a flier (I assume) on Daniel Jones in the 2nd round of the Rookie Draft, so I have to figure he plans on keeping that pair. At running back, he made an astute signing of Dion Lewis, who figures to be the complementary piece in Tennessee after the staff finally figured out that Derrick Henry is good at football, and they should give him the ball more. Still, that’s the best running back he’s had on his roster so far in the league by a long sight, and he still should be some level of productive. Drafting potential future contributors Justice Hill and Tony Pollard where he did could be a coup for Jaxon, though they are each currently buried on their respective depth charts. At wide receiver, though he’s traded away Adam Humphries, Jaxon still should enjoy the services of Curtis Samuel (If and when healthy), and Donte Moncrief should he be staying on Green Bay’s roster. The Packers have several players with theoretical upside there, including Josh Reynolds—LAR’s return man/Cooper Kupp fill-in down the stretch in 2018—and Josh Malone and Damion Ratley. At tight end, the Cheeseheads drafted Noah Fant (Not Devin Funcheese, though that would be the perfect pick), and have Cameron Brate on retainer for whenever he should have an unpredictably solid week. Defensively, the line is as solid, with Linval Joseph and Geno Atkins leading the way, and Matt Ioannidis as a good depth piece. Rookie Chase Winovich may be projectable as well, but it’s too early to say. At linebacker, Green Bay is among the weakest teams in the league, sporting a top-two of Kyle Van Noy and Duke Riley, and relying on rookies Ty Summers and Ulysees Gilbert III (Whose family, apparently, has been unable to spell for three generations, and just like Gob in Arrested Development, could only have continued to give that name due to an escalating set of dares). Defensive back is in a bit better shape, with Earl Thomas (Provided his legs are healthy), and Donte Jackson leading the way. Ronald Darby provides some depth, and rookie Amani Hooker, who is behind one of the NFL’s best in Kevin Byard, is also present.
X-factor: To tank or not to tank, that is the question. In summation: If he intends to, Jaxon needs to make the Packers a lot worse quickly. If he can’t, he ought to try to contend with the group he has now, adding at RB, WR, and LB. If he does that, he may even be able to snag that playoff spot that only just eluded him last year.
Projected division finish: 3rd
Minnesota Vikings (Matt)
Last year’s finish: 4th (Division: 2nd)
Outlook: Matt fell back to Earth a bit last season, going only 8-4, after winning the Super Bowl in 2017. But to say that it wasn’t a good season would be to ignore that Matt finished only 130+ points off the non-Cecil points lead (As the number he set was unprecedented and inhuman), and bested his own 2017 championship season total by 150 points. So it is clear there was some bad luck there (In addition to a better in-division competitor in Christian as opposed to Ryan’s swan song team in 2017). Moyer’s 2019 squad will once again include Andrew Luck at quarterback, Alvin Kamara at running back, and Davante Adams at WR. Those three alone make Minnesota a contender. In addition, Matt added Amari Cooper in a highway robbery deal a year ago, and with Hunter Henry slated to return, has tight end well in hand too. Courtland Sutton offers some upside after a mixed but mostly positive rookie year. Outside of that, the Vikings have Cam Meredith, the forgotten name on the New Orleans depth chart, T.J. Yeldon, the only member of the four-man RBBC in Buffalo NOT to take a first team rep as of yet, and cut candidate Rob Kelley. Additionally, Matt parted with 2020 1st and 3rd Round picks for the right to draft rookie RB Bryce Love, but he’s probably best to think about him as a piece for 2020 and beyond. Defense, coming into the off-season, is where the Vikings had to, and consequently did do the most work. Matt added Romeo Okwara in a trade, to pair with superstar pass rusher Frank Clark. Arden Key also presents an option if he can increase his playing time after a somewhat promising rookie campaign. Linebacker is the strength of the defense, with Jarrad Davis, Mark Barron, Sean Lee, Marquel Lee, Kendell Beckwith (Still hoping to get back on a football field), and Rashaan Evans (Ready to move past an injury-ridden rookie year) in the stable. To be fair, there are questions about the role of at least three of those healthy players (Barron with the drafting of Devin Bush, and the Lees), which is probably why Matt added significantly in the draft, pulling in SPARQ darling Germaine Pratt, and Cleveland rookies Mack Wilson and Sione Takitaki. The latter two may not get much early run, but overall, it’s one of the better units in the league at the position, with room to grow. At defensive back, Marcus Maye and Justin Evans are very solid, and Sean Davis and rookie Will Harris, provided he wins the free safety job in Detroit especially, should provide adequate backup services.
X-factor: Offensive depth. The defense is going to be whatever it’s going to be already due to a numbers crunch. While Matt can make some marginal improvements there throughout the season without trading away from offense, he’s going to have to ride with those guys, and it probably will serve him okay, even though a couple of those guys look more like future contributors rather than current. But the offensive depth worries me more than anything. Matt will either have to play the free agent game (Which he now has plenty of cap to do at $57 currently), or trade away from his numbers on defense to accomplish this. Either way, though there are certainly some weak points, he should have enough to win the division this year.
Projected division finish: 1st
Thank you for reading this, the fifth in the series of Divisional Previews—the NFC North. I will publish the sixth installment this weekend.
The NFC North provided one of the most-compelling races in recent memory last year, with the reigning champion Minnesota Vikings and the upstart Detroit Lions entering the final week within a game of each other for the North crown, and the winner earning the right to…well, play the same game again the very next week! Ultimately, Christian (DET) prevailed in the regular season finale, before Matt exacted revenge on him in the playoffs the following week in the 4-5 seed game. And while Matt had a little bit more magic in his hat (Upending the previously unbeaten and record-setting Cecil (SEA)), he met his match one week later, losing to eventual champion Philadelphia, and was not able to be the first defending champion (Or former champion) to reclaim his crown. Will Matt be able to get back atop the division? Will Christian prove that 2018 wasn’t just a fluke, and upset the order in the division for good? Can Jaxon improve upon his impressive rookie campaign, or will he actually follow through on his announced intentions of tanking? And will this finally be the year that Charlie crawls out of the league basement for good? Let me know what you think about my projections and post you own comments. Also, DON’T FORGET to vote in the poll, as that’s the whole point.
Chicago Bears (Charlie)
Last year’s finish: 31st (Division: 4th)
Outlook: As I predicted, last year’s iteration of Charlie’s Bears was neither the best, nor the worst team that he has ever fielded—but it was much closer to the worst. Despite the 2-10 finish, there are some reasons for long-term optimism. Firstly, he used what draft capital that he didn’t trade away on either future and/or current Redskins’ starting QB Dwayne Haskins (Though a future starting QB, a leader of an RBBC for the short term, two DL, and a future role player at WR is a highly dissatisfying return on the #2 overall pick). Provided he can win the job, it will necessitate Charlie moving him or incumbent Matt Stafford to another team, a decision which, I’m legitimately unsure of how he’ll handle. Running back, as always, seems to be one of Charlie’s biggest issues, but the tandem of Peyton Barber and Jamaal Williams probably represents the best two options he’s ever had at the position since joining the league in 2015. Wide receiver is outright troublesome, with only bit-part players Phillip Dorsett, Cordarrelle Patterson, Laquon Treadwell, Robert Davis, and presumably rookie Travis Fulgham at the position. Add to that only Nick Boyle, blocking TE for the run-heaviest team in the NFL, and it’s very likely the worst receiving corps, and maybe the worse offense outright, in the league. Defensively Charlie’s in a bit better shape. At DL, Rober Nkemdiche finally had the breakout season everyone was waiting for, and now Charlie has added to that with the drafting of Nick Bosa. Linebacker, despite having no obvious standouts outside of Khalil Mack, who has now been re-upped through 2021, representing the Bear’s best semblance of a franchise player, may be the team’s best position. Spanning the range from above to below average, Charlie’s options include Leonard Floyd, Don’t’a Hightower, Clay Matthews, Elijah Lee, Dante Fowler Jr., and Frankie Luvu. Defensive back, similarly, is a position with several decent options, including Lamarcus Joyner, Xavien Howard, Kendall Fuller, and Xavier Rhodes. Clearly, the defense is much better than the offense, and may even crack the top-half on that side of the ball if they reach their potential this year.
X-factor: Offensive skill position players. Despite some obvious signs of improvement, Chicago is still worlds away from seriously competing in this league. If he is able to keep Haskins, Mack, and Bosa, he may be able to build around that core for the future. But it has to start at the positions of import on offense, of which, he has done a dreadfully poor job of stocking over the years.
Projected division finish: 4th
Detroit Lions (Christian)
Last year’s finish: 10th (Division: 1st)
Outlook: Christian managed to put his tenure as the failed owner of the Oakland Raiders behind him in 2018, winning the NFC North and making the playoffs for the first time, keeping alive Ryan’s (DET) streak of the franchise making the playoffs every year since we’ve kept data (2010), one of two franchises to do so (PHI is the other). Bearing some amazing similarities to his predecessor, Christian added some key pieces last year, including a virtuoso performance from linebacker Josh Bynes (Until he was placed on IR late in our regular season), who helped to fortify his linebacking corps, averaging a career-high 10.8 PPG whilst recording solid PFF grades, before surprisingly being released after the season without a hint of interest from any other NFL team. It’s a puzzling move that compares to Gerald Hodges’ release several years back. For Christian’s sake, I hope that Bynes’ situation doesn’t end up playing out like that of Hodges. At any rate, not having very good second linebacker production (Alongside Cam Newton’s inability to throw a football more than 10 yards), spelled doom on the Lions’ playoff chances. Speaking of Newton, he’s back (And hopefully so is his throwing arm), as well as holdovers Tylers Lockett and Eifert, Matt Breida, Chris Herndon, who was just suspended for the first four games on the basis of a DWI, and fellow criminal miscreant--and the soon-to-be suspended--Mark Walton. Overall, it would be an underwhelming group for a defending division champion if not for the decision that Christian made in the draft: to pony up and nab Josh Jacobs. That decision alone elevates his offense into the top-half, if not higher. However, further maintenance is required, unless of course he’s counting on health and production from the likes of Breshad Perriman, the aforementioned Herndon and Eifert TE combo, Walton, Dontrelle Inman, Chris Moore, and rookie Scotty Miller. Defensively, Detroit returns Carlos Dunlap—who was quietly excellent in 2018—at DL, alongside under-the-radar FA signings Ezekiel Ansah, and Adam Gostis. Provided health for Ansah (Though Christian smartly handcuffed him with rookie L.J. Collier), that could be one of the best DL groupings in the league. Leighton Vander Esch, who had one of the best rookie seasons in recent memory, leads the unit as a whole. He will pair with also-rans Elandon Roberts, Ben Gedeon, Adarius Taylor, the aforementioned, and to date unemployed, Bynes, and rookies Deshaun Davis, and Christian Miller (Who 1. May be reclassified to defensive line, and 2. Has an awesome dad, who spent a great deal of time talking to Steve and I at the Senior Bowl about his son, and his careers as a pro athlete and sportscaster). While Roberts and Gedeon may prove to be enough to get the Lions by at the position, an upgrade is probably needed to get him back to where he was a year ago. At the back end, Landon Collins, Adrian Amos, Marshon Lattimore, and Eric Murray make up one of the better DB quartets in the league. All-in-all, Detroit profiles as a team with some immense individual talent that is sorely missing some glue to put it all together. It will be interesting to see what, if anything Christian does to ameliorate that, and if nothing, how far he can coast on his current roster.
X-factor: Wide Receiver/Linebacker. Clearly Christain has the equation to make half a whole for both of these two positions. If he can acquire some pieces to work in tandem with those two talents (Vander Esch and Lockett), his chances of defending the North division crown and securing a high playoff spot look much better. As it is, he’s looking up at Minnesota again to start the season.
Projected division finish: 2nd
Green Bay Packers (Jaxon)
Last year’s finish: 21st (Division: 3rd)
Outlook: After entering the league with the season already underway last year, Jaxon managed to take a roster light on talent to a tiebreaker away from a playoff bid. This year’s squad is objectively more talented Week 1, but with Jaxon vowing to teardown and tank/put the focus towards the future—something that is probably not the worst idea given the gulf in talent between him and the league’s elite (And that more new managers should definitely do rather than go all in)—it’s unclear what will remain come the regular season. Still, I will render my predictions based on the information that I have available to me, and the fact that his team, at current, is far too good to be considered in the bottom-5, or maybe even 10 teams. And that starts with his starting quarterback—or at least one of his two pretty much guaranteed starters—Phillip Rivers, and his $12.5/1y salary—one which if I were Jaxon, I would get on the horn about trading now rather than after rookies are signed, as few teams, forget teams with a QB need, have the cap to take on, and fewer still will have space once rookie signing really kicks into gear. If he stays, it’s hard to see GB finishing anywhere near the bottom. That said, he also has Eli Manning, and took a flier (I assume) on Daniel Jones in the 2nd round of the Rookie Draft, so I have to figure he plans on keeping that pair. At running back, he made an astute signing of Dion Lewis, who figures to be the complementary piece in Tennessee after the staff finally figured out that Derrick Henry is good at football, and they should give him the ball more. Still, that’s the best running back he’s had on his roster so far in the league by a long sight, and he still should be some level of productive. Drafting potential future contributors Justice Hill and Tony Pollard where he did could be a coup for Jaxon, though they are each currently buried on their respective depth charts. At wide receiver, though he’s traded away Adam Humphries, Jaxon still should enjoy the services of Curtis Samuel (If and when healthy), and Donte Moncrief should he be staying on Green Bay’s roster. The Packers have several players with theoretical upside there, including Josh Reynolds—LAR’s return man/Cooper Kupp fill-in down the stretch in 2018—and Josh Malone and Damion Ratley. At tight end, the Cheeseheads drafted Noah Fant (Not Devin Funcheese, though that would be the perfect pick), and have Cameron Brate on retainer for whenever he should have an unpredictably solid week. Defensively, the line is as solid, with Linval Joseph and Geno Atkins leading the way, and Matt Ioannidis as a good depth piece. Rookie Chase Winovich may be projectable as well, but it’s too early to say. At linebacker, Green Bay is among the weakest teams in the league, sporting a top-two of Kyle Van Noy and Duke Riley, and relying on rookies Ty Summers and Ulysees Gilbert III (Whose family, apparently, has been unable to spell for three generations, and just like Gob in Arrested Development, could only have continued to give that name due to an escalating set of dares). Defensive back is in a bit better shape, with Earl Thomas (Provided his legs are healthy), and Donte Jackson leading the way. Ronald Darby provides some depth, and rookie Amani Hooker, who is behind one of the NFL’s best in Kevin Byard, is also present.
X-factor: To tank or not to tank, that is the question. In summation: If he intends to, Jaxon needs to make the Packers a lot worse quickly. If he can’t, he ought to try to contend with the group he has now, adding at RB, WR, and LB. If he does that, he may even be able to snag that playoff spot that only just eluded him last year.
Projected division finish: 3rd
Minnesota Vikings (Matt)
Last year’s finish: 4th (Division: 2nd)
Outlook: Matt fell back to Earth a bit last season, going only 8-4, after winning the Super Bowl in 2017. But to say that it wasn’t a good season would be to ignore that Matt finished only 130+ points off the non-Cecil points lead (As the number he set was unprecedented and inhuman), and bested his own 2017 championship season total by 150 points. So it is clear there was some bad luck there (In addition to a better in-division competitor in Christian as opposed to Ryan’s swan song team in 2017). Moyer’s 2019 squad will once again include Andrew Luck at quarterback, Alvin Kamara at running back, and Davante Adams at WR. Those three alone make Minnesota a contender. In addition, Matt added Amari Cooper in a highway robbery deal a year ago, and with Hunter Henry slated to return, has tight end well in hand too. Courtland Sutton offers some upside after a mixed but mostly positive rookie year. Outside of that, the Vikings have Cam Meredith, the forgotten name on the New Orleans depth chart, T.J. Yeldon, the only member of the four-man RBBC in Buffalo NOT to take a first team rep as of yet, and cut candidate Rob Kelley. Additionally, Matt parted with 2020 1st and 3rd Round picks for the right to draft rookie RB Bryce Love, but he’s probably best to think about him as a piece for 2020 and beyond. Defense, coming into the off-season, is where the Vikings had to, and consequently did do the most work. Matt added Romeo Okwara in a trade, to pair with superstar pass rusher Frank Clark. Arden Key also presents an option if he can increase his playing time after a somewhat promising rookie campaign. Linebacker is the strength of the defense, with Jarrad Davis, Mark Barron, Sean Lee, Marquel Lee, Kendell Beckwith (Still hoping to get back on a football field), and Rashaan Evans (Ready to move past an injury-ridden rookie year) in the stable. To be fair, there are questions about the role of at least three of those healthy players (Barron with the drafting of Devin Bush, and the Lees), which is probably why Matt added significantly in the draft, pulling in SPARQ darling Germaine Pratt, and Cleveland rookies Mack Wilson and Sione Takitaki. The latter two may not get much early run, but overall, it’s one of the better units in the league at the position, with room to grow. At defensive back, Marcus Maye and Justin Evans are very solid, and Sean Davis and rookie Will Harris, provided he wins the free safety job in Detroit especially, should provide adequate backup services.
X-factor: Offensive depth. The defense is going to be whatever it’s going to be already due to a numbers crunch. While Matt can make some marginal improvements there throughout the season without trading away from offense, he’s going to have to ride with those guys, and it probably will serve him okay, even though a couple of those guys look more like future contributors rather than current. But the offensive depth worries me more than anything. Matt will either have to play the free agent game (Which he now has plenty of cap to do at $57 currently), or trade away from his numbers on defense to accomplish this. Either way, though there are certainly some weak points, he should have enough to win the division this year.
Projected division finish: 1st
Thank you for reading this, the fifth in the series of Divisional Previews—the NFC North. I will publish the sixth installment this weekend.